This winter was one of the coldest in years for Philadelphia, and I certainly found myself shut inside with Netflix and a blanket for most of it. Thankfully, I can feel the weather warming up and flowers starting to sprout. I’ve fortunately been able to ditch my huge winter puffer and UGGs for much lighter and more colorful spring outfits, but it’s still a little difficult to pull myself out of the comfort of my bed. However, science says spending more time outside this spring will bring a ton of benefits– and I’m listening!
- Sunlight Boosts Your Body
I already knew that spending time in the sun is one of the main ways humans get their daily dose of Vitamin D. However, I didn’t know exactly what benefits Vitamin D gives. This vitamin supports your immune system (I’m definitely still fighting the winter sniffles) and has even been linked to lowering your risk of heart disease, according to Healthline. Additionally, enjoying the sun can help regulate your mood and increase sleep quality because your body doesn’t need to produce as much melatonin– the sleep hormone– once the days grow longer.
- Growing Trees Gives You Shade
On the flip side, if spring is warming up a little too quickly for your tastes, you can find refuge under the trees with freshly sprouted leaves and flowers. The heat island effect causes cities and developed areas to feel much hotter than rural areas, mostly due to infrastructure like buildings, vehicles, and asphalt. Beyond just providing shade, the EPA says that trees can release water into the air that may cool surrounding areas by up to 9°F.
- Brainpower Enhancer
According to the University of Michigan researchers Marc Berman, John Jonides and Stephen Kaplan, memory performance and attention spans can increase up to 20% after spending just an hour enjoying nature. This benefit is perfect to keep in mind when you’re grinding for final exams in a few weeks! For my fellow Owls, I definitely suggest walking along the Schuylkill River trail or visiting a place like the Centennial Arboretum near Fairmount Park to reap these awesome benefits.
- Beautiful Flowers and Adorable Animals
Enjoying the flora and fauna outside in general is a great mood booster! Flowers are almost guaranteed to boost your mood, and can even have aromatherapy benefits, such as promoting relaxation and happiness. Similarly, seeing more cute animals like squirrels or dogs can improve your memory and work performance, according to a study by Hiroshima University. As the weather heats up, more animals are bound to appear!
- Outdoor Activities = More (Fun) Exercise
This benefit is almost self-explanatory: when the weather is nicer outside, there’s more potential and motivation for casual exercise like walking/running, hiking, pick-up basketball, or even a simple game of frisbee. This article from Environmental Science and Technology found evidence that doing an exercise outside had more positive mental effects than doing the same exercise indoors. As a bonus, having more people outside doing group activities means more potential friends!
As the weather warms up, keep in mind how beneficial it is to spend time outdoors. Science guarantees that going outside this spring will boost your quality of life! If you have pollen allergies like I do, don’t forget to pick up something to fight the sniffles, and as the sun comes out, never forget to wear sunscreen!